Variable Results From GRP’s Big-Band All-Stars : *** VARIOUS ARTISTS “GRP All-Star Big Band” <i> GRP</i>

Since this 12-tune project involved an ad hoc band, with four different pianists and no fewer than eight very different arrangers, the results are as variable as might be expected. They range, in fact, from the sublime (Russell Ferrante’s ingenious arrangement of Victor Feldman’s “Seven Steps to Heaven”) to the ridiculous (Tom Scott’s pseudo-funk bleating on his tenor sax solo on Lee Morgan’s “The Sidewinder”).

With the exception of “Manteca,” drawn from a Dizzy Gillespie big-band version, the tunes are all enlargements of recordings originally made by small groups led by such luminaries as Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. Perhaps for this reason, there is surprisingly little of such typical big-band sounds as a brass or saxophone soli passage.

Several of the soloists are better known for their fusion contributions than for straight-ahead jazz work. There are enough opportunities, however, for such worthies as Eddie Daniels, Gary Burton and Sal Marquez to stretch out. Saxophonists Ernie Watts and Eric Marienthal also have their engaging moments. Dave Grusin is effective as arranger and pianist on “Maiden Voyage.”

Next time, how about keeping the personnel steady and hiring a single arranger to give the collection a sense of unity? Still, for its most creative moments, this experiment is worth investigating.

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